No Place To Call Home

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 2 Comments

Did you know there are around 400,000 children in Foster Care in our Country?

Way too many of these children in care are in need of forever homes and may never receive one. They may grow up and into their adult lives with no place to call HOME. No place to go on holidays. Nobody to help them with life decisions. Many age out of Foster Care and have nobody to encourage them and to continue to speak life into their souls. They often lose important people in their lives over and over again and need people to instill in them that they matter! They need people to encourage them to move forward, heal and become everything the Lord has designed for them to become. They too have a divine purpose in life!

Not just this Month in MAY (The National Foster Care Month) but everyday please remember each of these children in your prayers. Also pray for the many Foster Parents and Families as they are learning every day the difficulties and also the many blessings of being obedient to the call to Foster and or Adopt. These families have chosen to reach out and reach into the heart of a child. Many of them are in daily need of your prayers and your encouragement.

Lord, open our eyes to the Hurting children around us, in our Communities, our Schools, our Churches, and our Neighborhood and in the World. They are our future and they matter. Help us to be mindful of those who may need extra encouragement, guidance and love to support and or raise their families. Help us to recognize when it is YOU dear Lord asking us to help, teach, guide or make a difference in a child’s life. May our lives reflect your goodness and may we always extend your perfect love. Give us the desire to do like Christ in every circumstance you place us in. Use us Lord in big ways to change the world, mend the hearts of the hurting, show of your great love, and always bring you the glory while furthering your kingdom! Amen

If you would like more information or want to know how YOU can support us Foster/Adopt families or become involved in Foster/Adopting yourself please feel free to message me. Don’t hesitate to move forward if the Lord has placed this on your heart. suekwoodward@yahoo.com

Making “quiet moments” doesn’t take a cruise

April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 / Susan Woodward

Finding a place of solitude is hard. It’s even harder for a Mom. Little kids demand our presence with every wake moment. Older kids still need our constant supervision and guidance. And our young adults still manage to consume many portions of our days/nights as they continue to learn and grow. Our early rising “quite times” can be thrown off just as quickly as our late evening “quite times.” It is easy to be distracted with laundry, school papers and homework, house cleaning, and taking care of bills when you have a precious alone moment. Remember…All of the other things that “have to be done” will be done. Eventually.

The most important thing you can do when a “quiet time” exists, sneaks up on you, or is strategically planned…is to soak in the presence of God. Through prayer, His word, Thanksgiving and Praise you will become a better Mom…No really….YOU WILL Become a Better Woman!

Slow down and create calm quiet moments that will change your life and relationship with the Lord. It is in our unhurried moments that we can see and hear from Him clearly. We connect best with our creator when the “craziness of life” is purposely put on hold. If we take the time to connect just for a moment…we may see others hurting, be aware that our husband needs encouragement, linger on each word spoken by our children and find joy in each sunset and sunrise He gives to us.

If Jesus needed solitude than surely we must! We carry the weight of those we love and those who we are connected with and He carries the weight of the world! He found peace and time alone often. (Matthew 4: 1-11) (Luke 5: 16 and 6 :12) (Mark 6:31)

Making quiet moments doesn’t take a cruise (although I did soak in the presence of the Lord like never before on such an amazing trip away with my husband for ten days) With each and every effort we make to create a moment of solitude…no matter how long it is (even if it’s just ten minutes) will bring us blessings, give us strength and wisdom.

Let your life be a reflection of taking many quiet moments. It is in these moments that you will refuel. You will not short change yourself or your families because you will receive the goodness, wisdom and insight that only our creator can give us. Nothing is really more important. The laundry will always be there…the kids will always need you. Tuck yourself away in the closet, your car during a practice or a lunch break, or get a babysitter for an hour a week.

I have learned sometimes the hard way to take the solitude I (and you) so deserve and need…

I have been working on this my whole life…It started very young with reading my bible and writing. Sometimes writing just a prayer in my journal and other times my whole situation and frustrations came pouring out of me and onto the pages. I admit that for periods in my life I have been really, really bad at taking the moments needed with my Savior.

Every day is a new day that I strive for “quiet moments” with Him and Him alone. Look for them. They are there. Find direct messages from God in His word and from His voice as He speaks to you in your special times with Him.

HOPE…..Is Everything You Need!

March 30, 2015 / Susan Woodward

There are many terms in scripture like faith, hope, love, joy, grace, peace, etc. that we come across as we read our Bibles. What is HOPE? A modern idea of hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much, but with no real assurance of getting your desire.” According to biblical usage, “hope” is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.

Hope deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both. Hope is the confident expectation we have with certainty, that Gods word is true. When we know that what the Word says has occurred or will occur in accordance to what is written…..we have HOPE.

Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

When we possess a biblical HOPE it changes us. It doesn’t allow us to escape from reality or keep us from problems. It doesn’t keep us drifting from one thing to the next either. If we have a biblical HOPE based on believing Gods promises are true than it gives us results and keep us in line with life….and death.

HOPE Changes us…..

How we see things –This is our temporary home.

What we value –We become heavenly minded instead of earthly minded.

What we do with our lives –How we use our time, our gifts, and our talents.

HOPE gives us power to live courageously, to be all God has called us to be in Christ.

HOPE gives us Rewards & Blessings….

It gives us joy and peace -Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It gives us protection -Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His loving kindness,
It gives us strength, courage, boldness -Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.
It gives us endurance, comfort, confidence in the face of death –Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
It gives us confidence in ministry –1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Putting our HOPE in anything other than The Lord will hope-sometimes-thats-all-you-have only leave us disappointed.

God is called “the God of Hope.” This means He is the source of all real HOPE. If we are going to have HOPE (a confident expectation), it must come from Him for He alone has the power to give it.

–Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

If you are without Christ, you are without God and without true HOPE.

HOPE depends on knowing the word of God, resting in His grace and living a spirit filled Life!

If you have a Biblical, Spiritual, Confident, HOPE In Jesus Christ…..You Really Do Have Everything!

You are a Magnum Opus!

March 22, 2015March 30, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 4 Comments

Dare to be You!

Just the way that God has created YOU to be!

There is only one of YOU uniquely designed by the Master Creator…to be YOU!

You have your own interests, talents and gifts. You have your own likes and dislikes. You have your own personality and perception. You have your own look, your own set of opinions and your own divine purpose in serving Him!

Don’t cover up, hide, and try to be like someone else. Do not envy the talents and gifts of others!

Embrace yourself ….Embrace the uniqueness of how you were formed….Embrace that YOU are YOU for a reason. You have a purpose and He has a perfect Plan for you.

No one the Lord designed was a misfit, none of His plans were an afterthought and nothing He has created needs to be tweaked or changed!

You are a Magnum Opus! ~meaning: A Great Work of Art!!

Designed by the Master of all Artists!

He has made NO mistakes in His creation and handiwork.

You are a Beautiful Masterpiece!

So, Live Fully……Daring To Be YOU!

Baby.Parent.Jesus. Separation Anxiety!

March 17, 2015March 17, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 4 Comments

home-is-where-the-heart-is

A few Sundays ago Amanda was dropping Kayleigh off in the two year old class at church. I stood in the hallway and watched as Kayleigh’s Separation Anxiety slowly consumed her. She wanted her mommy. Nobody or anything was going to satisfy her.

As I watched…This Mimi’s heart ached for her… and Amanda. I remembered when my kids were that young. It always hurt to leave them. They didnt understand that I’d never put them in harm’s way and that I’d always return. But we have to teach THEM to trust US and it’s a very important stage in their development. When they became older, WE have to learn to trust THEM when we are separated. This is just as important!

Babies start going through the “Separation Anxiety Stage” around 7 months and it last each child different amounts of time. It can be triggered for many different things and is VERY VERY REAL!!

In a way, it’s good news for your “little baby!” They are becoming aware of strangers when you leave them. Being worried about stranger’s is a sign that your baby has made a big leap in thinking and understanding. Develop a calm, short goodbye routine. (Hugs, quick kisses, and leave the room….May Work….Or Not!) Make it a big deal when you return. Tell them how proud you are that they did it and express a big….Yippee!! This Crazy Hard stage for your baby will pass over time, so you can rest assured, because ALL babies have to go through it!

The Crazy Thing is…. later it’s the PARENT who goes through the “Separation Anxiety Stage.” But this stage begins when your BABY is around 17! So, don’t be alarmed when YOU start going through a very similar experience that your baby once did. Only this time it is when THEY are leaving YOU! Hang in there…..You can make it through It! And it can still be great news!

The first time my oldest son took the car alone was the onset of my first full blown “Separation Anxiety Attack!” I prayed and prayed…and I (and him) made it! Over the years, I have experienced a lot more “attacks!” (OK maybe they’re not “real attacks” but they are episodes where I have become “real frantic”) And….despite my own disbelief at times…I have made it through ALL of them thus far! I have endured the separation of having three drivers, each of them exploring life and different jobs, going away to college, taking trips with friends and just this weekend having my first child move out on their own! You can too with Gods help and a whole lot of prayers! They always know where home is! After all…..Home Is Where The Heart is! Even with knowing that, my heart strings still get pulled often and I am pretty sure yours will too.

I realized this weekend that my goodbye routine is very similar to when they were babies. Calm and short works best for me. Making it a Big Deal when I see them again. I still always express a big…Yippee!!! It doesn’t lessen the heart ache of them being away, but it sure helps to celebrate the moments you are together. Learning how to watch them grow and become independent from you is Crazy Hard!! But you can rest assured, because ALL parents have to go through it!

What a calming thought it is to know How Jesus feels towards us when we separate from Him! There are times we make choices that can bring us into many unknowns, or far away from Him. I can only imagine the Separation Anxiety that He has for his children when ONE becomes separated. I’m thankful that my feelings for my children are nothing like the heart ache Jesus has for them. His heart ache is soooooo much greater for them than ours. It gives me amazing peace and comfort knowing His Love for His (our) Children is far beyond comprehension or measure.

Every child and parent will go through the “Separation Anxiety Stage” in raising their children. Continue to pray your child never chooses to separate from God. But we can all rest assured, that every time one of His children takes a step away from Him, He never leaves them or says goodbye! He waits patiently for their return home to Him. And He is so proud of them when He sees them again. He wants each of us to understand what a big deal it is when we are no longer separated from Him. I just know He has to celebrate to an extreme we can’t imagine….I bet He jumps up and down and expresses a big….Yippee!!!

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This Picture Day Was Different

March 12, 2015March 12, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 2 Comments

A great day for some pictures! So We Thought!

Sunday was a beautiful day out! Amanda and I set out to take some Country shots of Kayleigh. Like many other times, her mom got her ready and we headed out with a goal in mind.

But….this picture day was different!

Maybe, just maybe, this picture day was different because Kayleigh is now TWO! Nothing comes too easily with her these days. She has a mind of her own and a little stubbornness mixed into all that sweetness of hers.

We were in a quiet area with nothing around us for distractions…..Yeah right!!

It was much different in the eyes of a two year old! She wanted to touch, throw, walk through, sit in, and even EAT the snow that consumed her attention. She found mailboxes to open, a fence to climb, sticks to play with, and puddles of mud to walk through….And Yes!!! We were exhausted after only ten minutes!!!

She only peered into the camera with an actual smile ONE time that day…..

But later that night, while working on the hundred plus shots I had, I came to the conclusion that I actually liked the candidness of our adventure. One picture stood out the most. I couldn’t help but reflect on this scripture:

Psalms 25:4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

As she grows, the world will have many distractions. Like the sticks, mud puddles and mailboxes did this day. There will be things that intrigue her just like the beautiful, cold, white snow she hadn’t experienced before. Things may draw her attention away from where her focus should be. Too many roads could bring her too many choices that may cloud her thoughts or actions.

I’ve decided that I’m not only keeping this picture…but I am blowing it up!

Just for Mimi’s sake!

Kayleigh scripture

It will always remind me to pray this scripture over her in hopes that she can one day tuck it into her own heart. That she grows up loving the Lord and seeks him first for guidance and direction. That her path will always remain straight and narrow.

So when life presents her with obstacles (and it will) and throws her some distractions (and it will) she will always remember to Ask The Lord to Show Her His Ways, and Teach Her His Paths.

A Picture Day Mess?

No Way!

It Was A Picture Day Success!